Indium-silver- and zinc-silver-mediated barbier-grignard-type alkylation reactions of imines by using unactivated alkyl halides in aqueous media.

In the presence of In or Zn/AgI/InCl(3), an efficient and practical method for the Barbier-Grignard-type alkylation reactions of simple imines by using a one-pot condensation of various aldehydes, amines (including the aliphatic and chiral version), and secondary alkyl iodides has been developed. The reaction proceeded more efficiently in water than in organic solvents. Without the use of CuI, it mainly gave the imine self-reductive coupling product, which was not the alkylated product. Good diastereoselectivities (up to 92:8 dr) were obtained when L-valine methyl ester was used as the substrate.